Personal Preferences Free Claude Code CLAUDE.md template, copy & paste
A ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md for how you like to work — loaded in every project, kept out of every repository.
WHEN TO USE IT
When you find yourself repeating the same preferences — tone, git habits, how to ask before acting — in every project.
Formats change. If a field stops working, check it against Anthropic's documentation.
User memory is loaded alongside each project's, not instead of it. Keep it to habits that are true everywhere.
# How I work
## Communication
- Be concise. Lead with the answer, then the reasoning if it matters.
- When you are unsure, say so and say what would settle it.
## Changes
- Make the smallest change that solves the problem.
- Ask before deleting files, rewriting history or adding a dependency.
- Run the relevant tests before saying something is done.
## Git
- Never commit or push unless I ask.
- Commit messages: imperative subject under 72 characters, body says why.Private notes for a single checkout — your local URLs, your test account. Add it to .gitignore.
# Local notes (not committed)
- My local database: Server=localhost,1433;Database=app_dev
- Seed test data with: `dotnet run --project tools/Seed`
- I am working on the billing module this month; prefer changes thereAll of these load together. A project file does not replace your personal one.
mkdir -p ~/.claude
mv CLAUDE.md ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md # you, every project
mv CLAUDE.local.md ./CLAUDE.local.md # you, this project only
echo "CLAUDE.local.md" >> .gitignoreMORE CLAUDE.MD
The authority
Anthropic's documentation for CLAUDE.md
This template is a starting point. Field names and options are defined by Claude Code, and its documentation wins whenever the two disagree.
https://code.claude.com/docs/en/memory